GoFundMe to benefit family of 14-year-old who died after being pulled, unresponsive, from the water at Menomonee Park

Aries Jones, 14, will be remembered as a "wonderful son" and "an awesome kid" his family wrote on his GoFundMe page. He died in an area hospital after being pulled, unresponsive, from the water at Menomonee Park, W220 N7884 Town Line Road,  Menomonee Falls on July 28. 

Bystanders performed CPR until rescue workers took over.  Aries regained a pulse and was taken to an area hospital by Flight for Life, according to a news release from the Waukesha County Sheriff's Office.

According to the Waukesha County Medical Examiner’s Office, he died Monday, Aug. 1. The cause of death has not yet been determined, according to the Waukesha County Medical Examiner's Office.

The GoFundMe seeks donations to help cover the cost of Aries' funeral and to help his immediate family — his two siblings and mother — with other expenses.

"We are devastated by Aries's passing and want to give our Hero the send-off he deserves, to honor and say our last goodbyes," said the GoFundMe page.

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"Our beloved 14 yr old nephew Aries Jones was a wonderful son, an awesome kid and a real Superhero," wrote Aries' aunt, Anteela Beard, who set up the page. The fundraising goal is set at $7,500; as of Aug. 9,  $4,706 had been raised. To donate, visit bit.ly/AriesJones. 

A person who was at the scene but who asked to remain anonymous for this story said the people who dove in to pull Aries from the water were "amazing" and "a bunch of good people doing the right thing."

"The sheriff's office would like to thank the citizens on scene for taking action in removing the juvenile from the water and performing life-saving measures," Sheriff's Lt. Nicholas Ollinger said in the news release. 

A funeral service is being planned, according to the GoFundMe page.

Menomonee Park has operated without any lifeguards this summer for the first year, according to Emily Holler, a public communications coordinator for Waukesha County. Because of a lifeguard staffing shortage, six county parks with beaches are being run without lifeguards this summer.

Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @kozlowicz_cathy.